Purple shampoo is a must-have for anyone with blonde, lightened, or gray hair who wants to maintain a cool, even tone. With proper use and maintenance, it can keep your hair looking fresh and vibrant. Purple shampoo is a quick fix in between professional colour services to keep unwanted tones at bay. It is important to use it correctly to avoid damaging the hair or extensions.
Purple Shampoo 101
Purple shampoos are formulated with a purple pigment that counteracts and neutralizes unwanted yellow and brassy tones on lighter hair. The reason behind the purple colour is based on colour theory, where purple is the direct opposite of yellow on the colour wheel, and these colours tend to cancel each other out.
The application of a purple tint on colour-treated yellow or brassy tones helps to correct the hair’s shade, leading to a restoration of the previous neutral or natural brightness with cooler tones.
Overall, purple shampoos are a popular solution for maintaining or enhancing hair colour by reducing undesirable warm tones.
Toning Hair Extensions with Purple Shampoo
A Shampoo Bath is an effective method to tone clip-in, ponytail, and halo extensions, as well as permanent extensions that may have become brassy. Before beginning the process, prepare the necessary tools and products, including a brush, towel, purple shampoo, and conditioner/mask, to prevent any interruptions during the procedure.
To start, brush the extensions thoroughly to prevent tangling and submerge them in lukewarm water to ensure that they are completely saturated. It is important to avoid any dry patches to prevent any inconsistencies in the final color result. Remove the excess water from the extensions using a towel and place them aside.
Next, add 2-3 drops of purple shampoo to the water and mix thoroughly until the shampoo is no longer visible. Gently place the extensions back into the water and swirl them around to ensure even distribution of the shampoo. Use your hands to massage the hair, ensuring that all areas of the extensions have been thoroughly coated.
It is recommended to test the toner on a small section of the extensions before submerging all of the hair. This allows you to adjust the strength of the toner and control the amount needed for your desired outcome.
After the desired amount of time has elapsed, rinse the hair extensions thoroughly to remove all residue. Finally, apply a deep conditioning hair mask to the extensions and leave it on for 10-20 minutes for maximum hydration and to restore the hair’s natural moisture.
Washing Your Permanent Extensions with Purple Shampoo
Start by wetting your hair with slightly warm water: It’s important to completely wet your hair and extensions before applying the purple shampoo. Slightly warm water can help expand the hair shafts, allowing for better absorption of the shampoo.
Apply and massage the shampoo into your hair: Work the purple shampoo from root to ends, making sure to massage it gently throughout your hair. Lather the shampoo as you go, ensuring that every strand is covered.
Leave the shampoo on for 2-3 minutes for naturally blonde hair: For those with natural blonde hair and mild brassiness, leaving the shampoo on for 2-3 minutes should suffice. However, this may vary depending on the brand of shampoo you are using, and it may need to be left on for up to 5 minutes. After the designated time, rinse your hair with cool water.
Condition your hair as usual: To keep your hair extensions moisturized, it is recommended to finish your washing routine with a conditioner or hair mask. Apply it as you normally would and rinse thoroughly.
Tips for choosing the best purple shampoo for your hair
Look for a purple shampoo with a thick, opaque consistency:
Premium purple shampoos should not be transparent in colour. The shampoo’s thick consistency will allow for maximum coverage on your hair.
For example, Kevin Murphy’s Blonde Angel Wash contains sunflower seed oil to provide hydration to dried-out strands. The shampoo also contains olive and linseed to keep your hair strong.
Consider purchasing a darker purple shampoo for gray, platinum, or silver hair:
Darker purple shampoos, some of which may have an indigo or blue tint, work well on gray, platinum, or light-blonde hair. Avoid violet or bright purple shampoos and opt for a darker shade for pale hair.
Kerastase Bain Ultra-Violet is a good option, as it is fortified with hyaluronic acid for maximum hydration. The shampoo’s highly concentrated purple pigments help maintain blonde and gray tones between salon visits. Suitable for any hair texture or shade of blonde.
Choose a brighter purple shampoo for blonde hair:
Blonde hair requires less purple pigment to neutralize brassiness. Avoid dark, inky violet shampoos and choose a brighter shade to avoid oversaturating the hair. The lighter the hue, the less brassiness it will absorb from your hair.
Does Purple Shampoo Damage Hair Extensions?
It is important to use purple shampoos sparingly, as they can be harsh on hair and particularly damaging to extensions. Many toning shampoos contain sulfates and alcohol, which can dry out the hair when used too frequently. To minimize potential damage, it is recommended to use a shampoo bath method to dilute the strength of the shampoo when toning extensions. This can help to protect the hair from damage and keep it looking healthy.
How Often Can I Use Purple Shampoo?
Using purple shampoo to tone your hair is a type of hair colouring, although a milder one compared to traditional dyes. However, it can still have negative effects on your hair, so it’s best used sparingly as a quick fix between salon visits to maintain the desired tone. We recommend limiting the use of purple shampoo to no more than twice a month to minimize potential damage to the hair.
How Long Should I Leave Purple Shampoo In My Hair?
It’s important to note that leaving purple shampoo in for too long can lead to over-toning and a purple or blue hue in the hair. If you’re new to using purple shampoo, start by leaving it in for 2-3 minutes before washing it off. For those with white or gray hair, leaving it on for up to 15 minutes is acceptable, but any longer may result in unwanted tones.
It’s also worth mentioning that hair extensions are more porous and can absorb the purple pigment from the shampoo faster than natural hair. Therefore, it’s recommended to keep a close eye on the extensions and rinse them off sooner than your natural hair to avoid over-toning.
Can I Use Purple Shampoo After Bleaching My Hair?
It is generally recommended to wait at least 48 to 72 hours after bleaching your hair before washing it. This will allow the hair cuticles to close and seal in the new colour, preventing fading or damage. Once you have waited the appropriate amount of time, you can use a purple shampoo during your next wash day to help maintain the colour and prevent brassiness.
It’s important to note that bleaching hair extensions can be very damaging and is not recommended. Therefore, it’s crucial to avoid bleaching your hair extensions, and instead, use alternative methods to achieve your desired hair colour.
How Do I Tone-down Purple Shampoo on my Extensions?
It is possible that Purple Shampoo may leave behind more purple tones than desired, especially if it was not tested beforehand. In such cases, clarifying shampoo can be used to remove the excess tones from the hair. It is important to note that clarifying shampoo can also dry out the hair, so it is recommended to follow up with a generous amount of conditioner. Opting for a protein-free clarifying shampoo may help to minimize the risk of damage or dryness to hair extensions.
